De Bruyne Shines in Napoli’s Commanding Commencement of Scudetto Defense Against Sassuolo

Kevin De Bruyne marked his Napoli debut with aplomb on Saturday, as the reigning Serie A champions embarked on their title defense with a composed 2-0 victory against newly-promoted Sassuolo.

The marquee acquisition of Italy’s summer transfer window, De Bruyne inaugurated his scoring for Napoli in the 57th minute, as his free-kick, deftly delivered from the left flank, eluded all before finding solace in the far corner of the net.

De Bruyne assured Napoli of a triumphant beginning to the new season in Reggio Emilia, following Scott McTominay’s continuation of last season’s prowess with a thunderous header in the 17th minute.

McTominay, the luminary of Napoli’s second Scudetto conquest in three years with 12 goals, again exhibited exquisite form under Antonio Conte’s tutelage.

The Scottish midfielder was unfortunate not to augment his tally for the evening just before half-time, as his searing first-time strike ricocheted off the crossbar.

Napoli has yet to retain a league title, a feat that eluded even the legendary Diego Maradona during his tenure in southern Italy in the 1980s. Their attempt to do so following the historic triumph of 2023 culminated in a 10th-place finish.

However, unlike Luciano Spalletti, whose departure post-championship unsettled Napoli, Conte has opted to remain, instilling hope among fans for another stellar season.

The current squad will navigate the initial months of Napoli’s pursuit of a fifth league title sans Romelu Lukaku. De Bruyne’s compatriot faces a hiatus until year’s end due to a thigh muscle tear, while his substitute, Lorenzo Lucca, found it challenging to make an impact on his Napoli debut.

Sassuolo, having surged to the Serie B title last season, were outmatched in their top-flight return and concluded the match with ten men after debutant Ismael Kone was dismissed in the 79th minute for dual bookable offences.

Elsewhere, Luka Modric is set to commence AC Milan’s inaugural fixture against promoted Cremonese, as the seasoned star embarks on a new odyssey in northern Italy following 13 illustrious years at Real Madrid.

Roma is poised to confront a familiar adversary in their first official match under new manager Gian Piero Gasperini, with ex-Lazio forward Ciro Immobile debuting for Bologna.